D-LINK DSL-520B Review

This modem supports high download speeds, Quality of Service (QoS), and extensive firewall protection, providing all the essentials that a home or small office would need to establish a secure and high speed remote link to the internet.

AFFORDABLE HIGH-SPEED CONNECTION FOR HOME & SMALL OFFICE

The DSL-520B ADSL2+ modem router is an affordable high-performance ADSL device for home and the small office. With integrated ADSL2/2+ supporting up to 24Mbps download speed, firewall protection, Quality of Service (QoS) and 1-port switch, this router provides all the essentials that a home or small office needs to establish a secure and high-speed remote link to the outside world.

Brand	D-Link
Model	DSL-520B
Spec
Type	DSL Modem
Interface	RJ-11 ADSL port RJ-45 10/100BASE-TX Ethernet port with auto MDI//MDIX
Standards	ITU-T G.992.5 Annex A/M
Max Transmission Rate	24Mbps Downstream, 2Mbps Upstream
Features	Surf the Internet, check e-mail, and chat online Easy setup – no technical experience required Connect your computer with Ethernet

FIREWALL PROTECTION & QoS

Security features prevents unauthorized access to the home and office network from Internet intruders. The router provides firewall security using Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) and Denial of Service (DoS) attack protection. SPI inspects the contents of all incoming packet headers before deciding what packets are allowed to pass through. Router access control is provided with packet filtering based on port and source/destination MAC/IP addresses. For Quality of Service (QoS), the router supports multiple priority queues to enable a group of home or office users to experience the benefit of smooth network connection of inbound and outbound data without concern of traffic congestion. This QoS support allows users to enjoy high ADSL transmission for applications such as VoIP, streaming multimedia and on-line games over the Internet.

WHAT THIS PRODUCT DOES

This ADSL modem router connects to the Internet using an integrated high-speed ADSL2+ interface. Multiple computers at home or the office can share the high-speed Internet connection. The router provides firewall protection and QoS for secure and smooth on-line games, voice communication and download of photos, files, music and video over the Internet.

GET HIGH-SPEED ADSL SPEED

Ready ADSL connection with up to 24Mbps downstream and 2Mbps upstream. Watch TV, listen to live music and broadcast on the Internet, play games and experience clear Internet phone calls. Now, smooth streaming multimedia and VoIP voice are possible at home and in the office through a simple connection to this router.

Amazon Most Helpful Customer Reviews

By big_joe_mcbob on January 1, 2013
Verified Purchase

I was having slow DSL performance and wanted to replace a Verizon provided DSL modem with something that could show me at least my DSL line was running well. My criteria was to find a DSL modem that supported the later standards (ADSL2+ Annex M, etc), at least have some sort of recent support (datasheets or firmware dated within past 2 or 3 years) and have full statistics. As another reviewer mentioned, there's not a lot to choose from overall.

This modem fit the bill for me, it has detailed WAN, ATM, ADSL statistics that at least showed me my local loop was clean. It supports OAM and BERT tests.

There doesn't seem (as of this review anyway) any firmware updates from DLink, so whatever is loaded is basically what you get. It seems likely this is because there is some country specific firmware.

The manual shows settings for Internet Time (NTP) which is missing in my firmware and can't set the time, This is a little annoying when looking at the logfile and trying to understand when an event happened.

My DSL performance issues didn't change with this modem and it turns out it was a Verizon issue, which they have now fixed. I see many reviews for various DSL or cable modems which claim to have solved performance, but I would caution problems can always be somewhere else. The statistics from this modem, plus some detailed speed tests I ran, made me confident the problem was not on my side of the wire.

By TechT on March 3, 2011
Verified Purchase

Let's be honest, there isn't much diversity in the market for dsl modems. After trying 2Wire's that have poor network functions, Motorola's that don't stay connected, and Netgear's that fail after 6 months I decided to give this D-Link a try. It came with an install cd which I of course chunked and used the web interface so I can not tell you about the install cd. The web interface has a, "quick setup" menu which avoids a lot of technical network terminology but still had a ton of options in other areas including DHCP and NAT functions so you don't necessarily have to have a separate router to use it with multiple computers. It was very easy to bridge with my existing router (which was the only way I could figure out to get the modem to stop blocking ports and let the other router handle it) and did not have the connection issues Motorola's seem to have with a bridged router handling the login info for your internet service. If you need help configuring it D-Link provides a 800 number inside the box. Overall this modem seems to be well-made, holds a connection well, and performs better than many out-dated models still on the market.

By Michael P Levy on May 24, 2013
Verified Purchase

I bought this DSL modem to replace a Westell 327W DSL modem/wireless G router that I got when I signed up for my Verizon home DSL six years ago. We live in a rural area and are toward the end of the recommended distance from the switching station for a DSL line. The Westell was very unreliable and would drop out the connection to the internet regularly and often needed to be re-booted to reconnect. It was especially bad when the weather was less than a perfect sunny day. This unit, the 520B is rock solid. I have had it for about a month so far, during which time we have had severe rain and thunderstorms - including lightning strikes - and it has not even skipped a beat. The unit was easy to install with the included software and it automatically self-updates via the signals sent from your ISP so it is a true "set it and forget it" kind of device (as it should be), but access to manually configure the unit is great also should you ever need it. The VPN pass through feature is faster and more reliable than the Westell was - much needed for me as when I telework I have to connect into the company network via a VPN connection.

I have a Linksys EA 4500 wireless router connected to the modem and the two work flawlessly together as well. The EA 4500 is the hub of a fairly complex wired/wireless home network with multiple wired nodes, two router/wireless access points, an eight port switch and one wireless signal repeater/range extender. At maximum usage, there are four computers, two wireless printers, two Android phones and two Android tablets on the network running through the network and utilizing the modem at once and I never sense any traffic hitches or slow down issues. I am very pleased with this product in both price and performance.

By T. Fisher on September 10, 2013
Verified Purchase

I JUST got this modem to connect, and I have a little advice for people calling tech support:

If you're like me, you didn't write down your DSL password because you NEVER need to know it. Big mistake. After this, you'll write it down somewhere.

Now, the people at Verizon are not going to be used to supporting a different modem than the one they issue. Also, when they look up information on this modem they're going to be looking at outdated information. So you'll be doing the heavy lifting.

To get the modem to work, use the CD that came with the modem to initiate automatic network configuration. Next, get your DSL username and password from your ISP... this is the hard part.

After that, make SURE the DSL and Internet lights are on. If they are you're DONE with the modem. You hear me? DONE. They'll wind you round and round in circles and you'll just keep rebooting it.

Try to connect to the Internet. If you can't, the problem is in your NETWORK settings. Go to your network card properties and click configure. When the Window pops up with all of the networking protocols, click on IP Version 4. Make sure at this time that it says "Obtain IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically".

Click okay and close the dialog boxes.

Right click on your network adapter and click status. This will force the network card to refresh it's status and everything should work properly.

Congratulations, you figured it out.

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Trendnet TEW-714TRU Pocket Wireless Router Review

You have to wonder why there are so many types of electrical plugs in the world. It’s a pain in the neck that Trendnet remedies by providing three swappable plugs: One for use in the UK, one for use in the rest of Europe, and one for North America. Since most other countries use one of those three types of adapters, Trendnet figures its router can plug into 90 percent of the world’s electrical outlets.

The router itself is relatively small; think of a slightly oversized wall wart. It plugs directly into an electrical outlet, much like the Netgear Trek and the TP-Link TL-WR710N. It can operate in one of three modes: As a wireless router connected to a DSL or cable modem or a hardwired network; in WISP mode, connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot; or as a repeater to extend the range of an existing wireless network. You slide a button on the side of the device to choose which mode you’d like it to operate in.

The Trendnet has one ethernet port and two USB ports. One is a USB 2.0 Type A for sharing files stored on a connected storage device, but there is no media server onboard for streaming music, video, or photos.

The second USB port is used only for charging small devices, such as a smartphone, tablet, or media player (it will deliver between 1.1- and 2.1 amps of power). There is no provision for using a 3G, 4G, or LTE USB modem with this router. An on/off button on the other side of the router lets you turn off the router’s network function without disabling its USB charging function.

Like most of the other travel routers in this roundup, the TEW-714TRU supports the 802.11b/g/n standards, delivering one 150Mbps spatial stream on the 2.4GHz frequency band. The router comes from the factory preconfigured with a secure password, and its default SSID, network password, and admin login and password are printed on a label that gets hidden the moment you plug the router into the wall (because it’s on the same side as its prongs). A WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button on the side of the router simplifies the process of adding clients to its wireless network, but you’ll still need to know the admin login info to access its user interface.

In terms of performance, the TEW-714TRU is way in the back of the pack, but it's faster than the last-place TP-Link TL-WR710N. At close range, with the client nine feet from the router and in the same room, it mustered TCP throughput of just 18.4Mbps. The first-place-finishing Netgear Trek PR2000 hit 87.7Mbps here. The Trendnet finished next to last when the client was in the kitchen, 20 feet from router and separated by one wall, delivering TCP throughput of 16.2Mbps.

It wasn’t able to sustain a connection at all when I moved the client to my home office, which is 65 feet from the router and separated by several walls.

Power tips uber alles?

The TEW-714TRU’s power tips will benefit frequent world travelers, and its ability to charge mobile devices and share files from an attached USB storage device are attractive features. But this router’s Wi-Fi performance leaves a bit to be desired.

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Wi-Tribe Philippines My Experienced

Wi-Tribe Review in the Philippines. I’ve always used Bayandsl as my ISP, but as I moved to a new place, I wanted to try other ISPs. I tried calling other ISPs, most of their packages were bundled with other services (like landline phones) which I don’t really need. So I ended up trying out one of the popular ISPs called Wi-Tribe, and here’s my Wi-Tribe Philippines Review …

Wi-Tribe Philippines Marketing is really well done

Wi-Tribe Broadband has got 3 postpaid plans (1mbps, 2mbps and 4 mbps), and they’ve also got some prepaid plans that can go as fast as 6mbps. Luckily my brother had a prepaid stick (Wi-tribe 4G Stick) which I borrowed to test it in my place. Signal was ok, and I was getting speeds of around 1.75 mbps (up to 2 mbps) which was acceptable. I remember a lot of bad reviews from this company like speed capping, slow video loading, and slower speeds when downloading. But I thought it was the last few years and it could be better now. I called up the tech support team and they’ve said that the concerns I have has been addressed and is not a problem anymore.

So I went ahead and visited their shop to test their internet, I loaded speedtest from both speedtest.net and wi-tribe speed test which confirmed that the speed is indeed as fast as they claim to be. I was pretty convinced and so I went ahead and registered myself one, in less than an hour, I had a new modem and router on my hand (I took the 4mbps postpaid plan). I was lucky to get the promo where I was given 2 months free and instead of paying P1998, I only needed to pay P1298 per month! I was happy to get the deals and have a quick application.

Wi-Tribe Review

When I got home, first thing I did was to configure everything. I tested it on my laptop and used my own high speed router to share to other devices. When I tried with the Wi-Tribe speed test, I was getting 0.75 mbps (1mbps during the first 24 – 48 hours to test before locking in for 12 months). I thought it was ok and that 0.75 seems to be a reasonable speed at 1 mbps at most. I thought that if I can get 0.75 mbps on 1 mbps, I should get at least 3 mbps on a 4 mbps max speed (while BayanDSL was getting 2.2 mbps at 3 mbps max that is extended from another wireless extender).

Tech support called 48 hours later to verify if I want to continue and I said yes so I can try the speeds of 4mbps. After 12 hours of waiting, it was upgraded to the 4 mbps and when I got home I was excited to try it out. To my disappoinment, it only gave speeds of 1.80mbps – 2.20 mbps with their own speed test. I called tech support and this is what they told me to do:

• Turn modem off for 5 to 10 minutes
• Reset Modem (button at the bottom of the modem, press for 10 seconds)
• Find the best spot for signal (I had 4 bars which was ok)

After doing all that, it was still giving me the same speeds. Aside from the speed issues, what I noticed is that YouTube loads at a very very slow rate (compared to BayanDSL at almost same speeds). Then I realized they have this “Fair usage policy”, which allows them to cap your speed in heavy usage. But the only thing was that I wasn’t heavily using and I only have a browser open and trying to load up a YouTube video.

I’m already considering cancelling this service with them and going with another ISP. I feel that cable DSL might still be more reliable that wireless ones and I totally hate the fact that they control your speeds thus limiting you to what you can and cannot do. Wi-Tribe Internet Connection seems to be for very light users who surf and email without videos or downloading. I’m going to give them one last chance for the tech support to visit my place, if it still fails then I’m cancelling it.

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myBro DV235T Green Packet Stock Firmware Snap Review

Recently I have just upgrade my 4G WiMAX wireless modem router myBro DV235T to Green Packet stock firmware. I just wanted to share this review using the default factory firmware instead the PLDT/Smart ISP customized firmware that has very limited user level privileges. Using the firmware v2.10.14-g1.0.4-gp you will be able to do what ever you wanted to do such as changing the WAN MAC address, port forwarding, DMZ etc.

What I love most having the stock firmware of Green Packet is that you are the admin, the root, the administrator of the device, you can customized your settings and your configuration without limits.

Here's just few of the screenshot taken by me that I wanted to share to all my guest, my commenter and likewise to those who eagerly wanted to tweak their new toy aka myBro DV235T.

This screenshot was grab from my Asus lappy, it only shows that myBro DV235T has been successfully change its WAN MAC address on this Green Packet stock firmware. All menus and sub-menu are now available, you can do what ever you want with your setting likewise configuration.

If you hate using the username and password as "admin" then you can now choose whatever username and password you wish, NTP server also is visible to edit if you need to synchronize you this CPE to other machine for special purposes it is now possible.

Your account is no longer locked by your ISP you can manually select the authentication of your username and password, setting the frequency  for best performance and optimizing your allotted bandwidth are even more possible that is if you want to test the 4G network in you area if you are really covered by many ISPs.

Tweakers will love this section since most of the sub-menus were being omitted on the customized myBro firmware, torrenting will play big role for those who are fun of downloading movies. You are all granted to port forward any ports inbound and outbound for any of your applications.

Protect and manage your 4G WiMAX wireless modem router CPE being updated the firmware over the air (OTA) by the system, deny or accept by enabling or disabling it. Not to mention other stuff such as SNMP, OMA-DM, Log, Ping if you want to test your connectivity to your ISP server. Upgrade and Recovery is also available to your to restore and upgrade with other firmware to the DV235T.

This features are not available on Huawei 4G WiMAX wireless broadband modem router, the Green Packet DV235T is capable of being a client and a server such as PPTP likewise L2TP, IPSEC or IP security is also added in this feature. Hopefully I could add the command line interface (cli) screenshot for the telnet and the ssh on my next post.

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Linksys’s EA6900 802.11ac router Snap Review

High-end consumer routers have long been very similar to luxury cars: while the core technology is a step above lower end models, manufacturers also try to see many more features they can fit into one product. Luxury cars get cooled beverage compartments, while routers get web apps, USB ports, and media servers.

Still, these gadgets are some of the most crucial for our computing experience in this century and we’re excited to see new flagship models. One such is the forthcoming Linksys EA6900, announced just a few weeks ago under Linksys’ new parent company, Belkin. The product’s full name of Linksys EA6900 Wireless AC Router SMART Wi-Fi Dual Band AC1900 should give you a clue as to just how many features are stuffed into this beast.

The biggest difference between this the router you’re likely using now is that it supports the new 802.11ac wireless standard. In a nutshell, what you’re getting is an evolution of 802.11n that brings faster speeds and better signal coverage. But the EA6900 doesn’t stop there.

It also has the newest revision of chipsets for 802.11n, using a newer 256 QAM modulation chip that allows for a maximum of 600 Mbps throughput. Of course the 600 Mbps for 802.11n and 1900 Mbps for 802.11ac after maximum theoretical bandwidth values, but they’re still wicked fast and probably a lot faster than what you’re working with now.

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits the EA6900 brings compared to other modern routers is its triple di-pole external antennae. You can have all the latest chips in the world, but without a quality antennae to blast that signal to the corners of your domicile you won’t be getting far. External antennae also mean they will be replaceable

Aside from the benefits the new wireless platform brings you, the EA6900 has nearly anything else you could want. Two USB ports, one operating at 3.0-spec, let you access and share content on your local storage with ease. DLNA media server support means you can take the multimedia content on those storage devices and make them accessible to nearly any device on your network.

Fully customizable network controls are all baked in. From easy guest access to parental controls to QoS, there’s nothing you can’t regulate with the EA6900. It even supports NFC via the included SimpleTap card; just tap this card to your NFC-enabled smartphone (with the Linksys mobile app installed) and it will automatically connect.

There are probably some other features we’re forgetting, but you get the idea. Linksys will start shipping this new model on October 4th, but right now you can pre-order direct from the source and save an impressive $43 off the list price.

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Netgear Trek PR2000 Travel Router Review

The Netgear Trek is extremely versatile and it delivers great speed and range, but it operates only on the 2.4GHz frequency band. It doesn’t have as many features as some of its competitors, but it is well designed and is largely self-contained. You’ll never need to worry about packing an AC adapter, because it’s built in—just swing its blades down and plug it into a nearby socket.

If you want better range than what you’ll get from operating the router near the floor, you can plug a USB AC adapter into its micro USB port (but you’ll need to provide your own, since Netgear doesn’t put one in the box). You could also connect an external battery to the Trek’s micro USB port (here again, you’ll need to provide your own).

"When you’re at home, you can configure the Trek as a wireless range extender."

The Trek operates only on the 2.4GHz frequency band, supporting the 802.11b/g/n standards, but it supports two spatial streams in 802.11n mode to deliver maximum throughput of 300Mbps (most of its 802.11b/g/n competitors support only one spatial stream and therefore top out at 150Mbps).

That and the aid of an articulated antenna helped the Trek deliver very high throughput—76.3Mbps—when the client was in my home office, 65 feet from the router and separated by several walls. That's more than three times faster than two of the other routers I tested, and the other three couldn’t reach the client at all.

With the client at close range—nine feet from the router and in the same room—the Trek delivered TCP throughput of 87.7Mbps, and the Trek's performance actually ticked up slightly when I moved the MacBook Pro to the kitchen, 20 feet from the router and separated by one insulated wall.

Pivoting the antenna upward—as I did for my tests—exposes four LEDs that light up to report power status, Internet access, Wi-Fi activity, and the presence of a USB storage device. It’s always nice to have visual affirmation instead of having to guess what’s going on.

Netgear’s travel router has two ethernet ports, so you can connect one to a DSL modem, cable modem, or the ethernet connection in your hotel room, and support one wired network client with the other (or plug in a switch and support as many hardwired clients as the switch has ports). The Trek does not support a guest network, which means anyone who's granted access to your network will be able see all the other devices on your network—you can’t restrict them to just Internet access.

You can also connect the Trek to a Wi-Fi hotspot and share a broadband connection that way. A WPS button would be a welcome addition in these scenarios; as it stands, you need either to log into the router’s user interface to initiate WPS pairing, or read the factory-assigned SSID and Wi-Fi password that’s printed on the router itself (assuming you didn’t change it). This is a minor inconvenience, but an inconvenience nonetheless.

When you’re at home, you can configure the Trek as a wireless range extender to fill in dead spots, or as a wireless bridge to support clients such as older Smart TVs, Blu-ray players, or AV receivers that require a hardwired network connection. Just don’t forget to take it with you when you hit the road again.

The Trek has one USB 2.0 Type A port that can be used to share a portable hard drive over your network. I much prefer Netgear’s Readyshare software for sharing files on a USB hard drive attached to the router. Using an SMB server, you can easily copy multiple files or entire folders over your network. The Trek also has an FTP server for sharing large files over the network or over the Internet.

You can also use that USB port to charge another USB device, such as a smartphone or media player—when the router is plugged into power. Unlike the D-Link and TP-Link devices, however, the Trek does not support USB cellular modems (although Netgear’s website indicates that the model sold in China and Russia does).

The Netgear Trek supports UPnP, but it doesn’t have a DLNA-certified media server. If you consider media streaming a critical feature, you might be happier with D-Link’s DIR-510L. But I don’t imagine that particular feature will be all that important to someone shopping for a travel router.

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Aztech HomePlug HL280E Snap Review

I’m never a fan of wireless network even though I have a D-Link DIR-655 Wireless N router at home. I’ll mainly be using the 4 ports Gigabit switch available on the DIR-655 for connections of my Mac mini server, MacBook Pro, NAS and Playstation 3. The OpenNet’s Optical Fibre termination point is in the living where most of my servers, NAS, computers being in the bed room. Hence I’ve decided to try out the new Aztech HomePlug HL280E which enable network connection through the use of powerline up to 1000Mbps.

A pair of Aztech HL280E Adapter from Bizgram

I’ll be performing a series of tests using iPerf (TCP mode only test).

Test Machines & Software
Server: MacBook Pro 2.66GHz Intel Core i7, 8GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM, Raid-0 (2 x 240GB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD Serial ATA 2.5″ Solid State Drives)

Server IP: 192.168.2.2, Gateway 192.168.2.1, Subnet: 255.255.255.0

Client: MacBook Pro 2GHz CoreDuo, 2GB DDR2 RAM, 500GB SATA HDD

Client IP: 192.168.2.1, Gateway 192.168.2.1, Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Power Strips: 02 x Taiyo 8 Gang 3 Metres Extension Sockets

Tool version: iperf version 2.0.2 (03 May 2005) pthreads
iPerf Commands

Server: iperf -s

Client: iperf -c 192.168.2.2


Client will attempt to iperf server IP for 3 times in succession.

Test 1 (Server and client in the bedroom, on the same wall socket)

Server location: Bedroom

Client Location: Bedroom

Test 1 - iPerf results

Test 2 (Server connected to wall socket, client connected to wall socket)

Server location: Bedroom

Client Location: Living Room

Test 2 - iPerf results

Test 3 (Server connected to wall socket, client connected to power strip)

Server location: Bedroom

Client Location: Living Room

Test 3 - iPerf results

Test 4 (Server connected to wall socket, client connected to wall socket)

Server location: Bedroom

Client Location: Utility Room (Room furthest away from bedroom with wall socket extended from kitchen’s existing power circuit)

Test 4 - iPerf results

Test 5 (Server connected to power strip, client connected to power strip)

Server location: Bedroom

Client Location: Living Room

Test 5 - iPerf results

Test 6 (Server connected to power strip, client connected to wall socket)

Server location: Bedroom

Client Location: Living Room

Test 6 - iPerf results

Test 6 will be the likely scenario of how my network will be deployed since there’s only 1 wall socket closest to where all my NAS, Mac Mini and MacBook Pro were, hence the HomePlug for the bedroom will definitely be on a power strip.

When my SingTel exStream gets activated eventually, a network speed of 50 Mbits/sec isn’t too bad.

More about the snapshot at sgwoot.com posted by guest blogger.

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MK802: The Tiny Stick Android PC for $74

It was only four days ago that we reported on the existence of a $49 VIA android mini PC and now we get to describe another such item, from Chinese brand rikomagic.

This small device measures 8.8 x 3.5 x 1.2 cm, which is the same as 3.46 x 1.37 x 0.47 inches. Quite a small package for a computer, but we lost the ability to be surprised by things like this because of the Raspberry Pi.

Anyway, the new mini PC is called MK802 and relies on an Allwinner 10 processor (1GHz Cortex-A8 CPU), as well as 512 MB of RAM (random access memory).

The Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system is loaded on the built-in storage, which is 4 GB NAND Flash.

What's more, an USB port is present, for connecting a keyboard or a mouse. It wouldn't do not to have any means of controlling the PC after all.

Besides the above, for establishing the connection to a TV or monitor, an HDMI port was made part of the contraption.

All in all, the MK802 is the sort of thing that will be able to turn any TV or monitor into a Smart TV with full PC capabilities.

Sure, there won't be any way to play games, but web browsing will work just fine, as will Android apps and the like.

MK802: the $74 Android PC-on-a-stick Walkthrough/Review

Other specifications that the Chinese company decided to include in the mini PC are support for 2.4G wireless keyboards, Wireless 802.11b/g/n, WAPI (Ralink8188), a memory card slot (Micro TF 2-32GB) and a nice collection of codecs.

For those seeking a list, there are both audio (AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCP, MP3, WMA, WAV, MIDI, M4A) and video codecs (WMV, ASF, MP4, 3GP, 3G2M4V, AVI, MJPEG, RV10, DivX, VC-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.263, H.264, 1280 x 720P HD 30 fps, 1080P/720 x 480 D1 30fps).

MK802: the $74 Android PC-on-a-stick Product Unboxing

Pre-orders can be made here and it won't take more than $74 to place one (59 Euro). Shipments will begin on June 10.

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AOpen MP915-B MiniPC Snap Review

The AOpen miniPC, which was first revealed at Computex exhibition in Taipei in June, is set to hit US stores. The machine looks surprisingly a lot like a Mac mini. Both machines measure 165 millimeters square. The AOpen miniPC measures 50 millimeters high, just 1 millimeter shorter than the Mac mini. Both have the same rounded design and a CD slot at the top in the front.

The primary design difference? The miniPC has a power button in the front. Whoops, how could you have possibly called this a look alike!? I personally commend the originality and creativity behind the AOpen design team :)

The miniPC will run Intel’s Pentium-M processor and feature a DVD burner, built in ether, 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB ports, IEEE1394 (Firewire) port, DVI, and S-video connectors. One version will ship with 512MB of memory and a 80GB hard drive. In short, it’s a PC Mac Mini.

The mini computers will be available in the US this month for $399 running Linux or $499 running Windows XP.

If it has a decent video card it might just become my home theater PC.

AOpen launched the XC mini MP45-BDR, a latest addition of the mini PC product family featured the Intel® GM45+ICH9M (Montevina) chipset and the new generation Blu-ray disc reader/DVD writer (Blu-ray Combo drive). It supports new Intel® Core™ 2 Duo (Penryn) processor and provides external frequency up to 800/1066MHz, thus maximizing the performance of the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo. It s also supports up to 4GB dual channel SO-DIMM DDR-II 667/800MHz. Its built-in GMAX4500MHD graphics engine offers full support for Microsoft® DirectX™ 10 to meet image quality and performance requirements for 3D games. In addition, a total of six USB 2.0 ports eliminates the scalability limitation of min PCs and ensures greater flexibility and space.

“Available in limited quantity only, the XC mini featured the high-end Blu-ray disc reader/DVD writer (Blu-ray Combo drive) aims to meet the world needs in high-quality video playback,” said Tony Yang, AOpen’s senior marketing Director. “It proves that its high performance has earned the trust of consumers and it becomes the hub of the digital home entertainment.“ He adds, “in addition to Blu-ray disc playback functions, the XC mini MP45-BDR also delivers DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD-RAM and CD-R capabilities for data backup and video burning. Eliminating the installation and configuration processes, the preinstalled Blu-ray Combo drive enhances user convenience and is shipped with exclusive Blu-ray video playback edition of Cyberlink PowerDVD software. It offers one-stop shopping for all consumer needs in both hardware and software, demonstrating AOpen’s considerate services to the consumers.”

With even more compact design and only 1.36L in volume, the XC mini MP45-BDR includes six USB 2.0 ports and provides faster transmission as well as hot-pluggable e-SATA ports for easy connection to more devices. The XC mini MP45-BDR can also function as a digital home audio/video center. It support HDCP Full HD 1080P playback with 5.1 channel surround sound output, the new generation Blu-ray disc playback functions, and built-in GMA X4500MHD graphics engine. Through bundled DVI or HDMI port, it can connect to traditional computer monitor, LCD monitor or HDTV, providing high-definition, surround-sound experience.

Other than advanced audio and video playback capabilities, the XC mini MP45-BDR is positioned as a versatile flagship model. It comes with many optional dedicated accessories to meet the needs of a variety of applications. These accessories include: TV tuner for viewing traditional TV and digital TV, 802.11b/g wireless network modules for constructing wireless network at home, and Bluetooth technology for exchanging information with mobile phones and PDA. All these accessories demonstrate that AOpen is not only a leading supplier of mini PC, but also a leading brand creating user experience in mini PC. The XC mini MP45-BDR also fulfills the concept of environmental protection. In addition to set an example in carrying out power and space saving, it actually complies with EU RoHS directive (Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment), delivering safe, worry-free operations.

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Linux Lite Is Heavy on Features and Usability

In a computing world distracted by distro overload, Linux Lite is a lightweight Linux OS that has no trouble handling a heavy workload.

Long gone are the days when it took hours to install and set up Linux on a computer, but most Linux distros still need a bit of configuration to adjust the massive desktop options to your liking.

Not so with Linux Lite. It is one of the few out-of-the-box experiences I have had in testing Linux distros that let me actually be up and working in under five minutes.

That is not to say I haven't spent time installing various preferred packages. That's the great beauty of using Linux. It gives users so much freedom to individualize the look and feel and choice of applications.

To its credit, Linux Lite does not install excessive numbers of programs to clutter up menus and home directories. Instead, it installs a collection of work and play packages to get you working and surfing. Rather than spend time removing or tolerating unwanted programs, users can simply add their preferred tools.

Testing That Testimony

My routine in checking out any unfamiliar Linux distro is to see how quickly the live session boots on my standard equipment. Usually, the first sign of duress is the lack of a wireless connection. The next stumbling block is usually one or more snags while installing the new distro to the test computers.

Linux Lite impressed me from the start. It loaded a live session in under 30 seconds with a prompt to enter my wireless connection credentials. I liked its speedy responsiveness when loading files from the DVD. I liked its fresh look and uncluttered design.

Linux Lite won me over when it installed on even my balkiest test computers without a single sign of trouble. That satisfaction continued as I performed my next critical step. Using nothing more than the installed set of packages, I attempt to use the distro to do actual work tasks for as long into my work day as I can tolerate.

I was pleasantly pleased not to have to make any settings changes or packages additions except one minor matter. Linux Lite defaults to two virtual workspaces. It only took a right click to change that setting to my standard four. The new setting was immediately activated in the workplace switcher app on the dock.

Look and Feel

Linux Lite uses the Xfce desktop environment. Not having any other choices is sometimes a good thing: It removes any quandaries about which optional offering would be better. Of course, if you prefer more memory-intensive flash-bang desktop effects, Xfce may not suit your comfort zone.

Xfce is fast and lightweight, but it is also very simple to use without compromising on performance. The Linux Lite developers did not make the mistake so many others make by embellishing or altering the integration of the desktop environment to make it more distro-unique.

I was able to easily change the default two-tone gray background with a right click on the desktop to select the Desktop Properties menu. Linux Lite offers a nice collection of colorful background images as part of the live session functionality. Often this personalizing option is not available with other Linux distros until you make a hard drive installation.

Working Desktop

The desktop screen is neat and simple, with easy navigation to the menu, system settings and configuration options. As I already mentioned, though, Linux Lite really needs no finessing to be truly usable from the start.

The menu is fairly standard yet simple and intuitive. For example, the folders are organized according to their categories. The slide-out menus are also well-categorized.

You can use the Run Program search box at the top of the menu to run a program rather than scroll through the standard menu -- but that only works if you actually know the name of what you want.

Another option is to use the Application Finder in the Accessory menu. Just select a category in the left column and click on the desired installed application in the right column.

Everything Just Works

Linux Lite has a lot going for it to make a very good first impression. With Linux Lite the basics work out-of-the-box.

For example, the only included browser is Firefox. I would have preferred the Chromium Browser, but Firefox was a reliable browser for me to start my work day rather than take time to install Chromium. Even Firefox's preinstalled state allowed me to play my online music collections and view YouTube videos without having to track down missing players and plug-ins.

When I needed to take that extra step to use some added third-party programs, relief was just a menu item away. The restricted extras package in the main system menu includes proprietary libraries and applications that enable the use of TrueType Fonts, Java, Flash and the ability to playback MP3s.

Strong System Support

Especially useful for configuring Linux Lite your way is the menu item to easily install special packages. The list includes a file and folder search tool and instant messaging. It also lets you add remote desktop, restricted extras, torrent software, video editing, VirtualBox, a weather monitor and/or Wine.

Linux Lite lacks its own community repository. The full range of package installation and software removal is done with the Synaptic Package Manager. A separate application in the main menu lets you install system updates.

The latest version of Linux Lite is "Amethyst," or version 1.0.6, released in June. The distro is based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, which includes five years of system updates without worrying about having to upgrade.

If you are not a fan of Ubuntu Linux, do not let the family lineage deter you from trying Linux Lite. Other than the system underpinnings, you will not see any trappings from the Ubuntu desktop.

Bottom Line

Linux Lite is an ideal starter distro for those looking for an upgrade when Windows XP dies early next year. Yet this distro is not just an easy Linux intro for newcomers -- it is a suitable workhorse distro for seasoned Linux users as well.

Even without installing it to a hard drive, you can reliably use Linux Lite in a live session from the DVD or USB drive installation. The USB option does not let you save your settings and software changes, however -- it is not intended for true portable use with persistent memory. However, if you use it only in live session mode, you can save your personal files externally.

Linux Lite is fully featured with the preinstalled software to be usable right out of the box.

Want to Suggest a Linux Application for Review?

Is there a Linux software application you'd like to suggest for review? Something you love or would like to get to know? - source

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D-Link DIR-615 Snap Review

The DIR-615 looks very similar to the router bundled in the DKT-810 kit, except that this model works with cable Internet connections rather than ADSL, and the router only has two antennas.

Fortunately, it uses the same friendly CD-based setup wizard, so it's quick and painless to get your Internet connection working and a secure wireless network up and running.

D-Link DIR-615 Specification here  User Manual pdf

The web-based management tool is the same, too. This looks great, but some of the more advanced options, such as QoS, are tricky and a little confusing to set up correctly.

Performance using our Centrino laptop was very good. Throughput of 20.14Mbit/sec at one metre from the router was very quick, and 11.74Mbit/sec at 25 metres indicated that range wasn't a problem. You should be able to get good reception anywhere inside the average home.

Switching to the same-brand DWA-410 USB adaptor (around £38) was disappointing, though. At one metre we managed 46Mbit/sec, which is great, but we couldn't get a signal at 25 metres, no matter how many settings we tweaked manually.

While Draft-n performance wasn't as good as we'd hoped, this router is fine if you just want to share an Internet connection wirelessly with your Centrino laptop. If you're looking for fast file sharing or video streaming, Buffalo's Nfiniti is a better choice.

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Sony PlayStation 4 Snap Review

Launch-day PS4 titles Knack and PlayRoom offer an interesting glimpse into the potential of Sony's new gaming console.

Sony Computer Entertainment offered a small group of international journalists hands on time with the PlayStation 4 this week, with sessions at its Shinagawa office and Tokyo Game Show. One game on show was new Sony title Knack, with game developer Mark Cerny on hand to discuss it and the console in general. As a games developer Cerny has worked on Sonic the Hedgehog, Spyro the Dragon and Crash Bandicoot, but with the PlayStation 4 he is also the console's lead architect.

I'm wondering if the decision to make the PS4 camera an optional extra is a long-term mistake,

Knack is a family-orientated character action game revolving around a main character who battles a goblin invasion and can change size by drawing in materials around him such as fragments of metal, rock and crystals. Knack consists of hundreds of small moving parts and is designed to take advantage of the advanced graphics and physics capabilities of the PlayStation 4. The game is very plot-driven, with a movie-style plot line and extra characters which give it a bit of a TinTin feel.

When you pick up the new wireless DualShock 4 control the 20gm weight gain on the previous version isn't noticeable. It utilises the same basic DualShock design, retaining the dual analogue sticks along with the d-pad on the left and the four coloured actions buttons on the right. The heads of the analogue controllers are slightly smaller but feature rubber tips to help with grip.

The big change with the DualShock 4 is that Sony has moved the Select, Start and PlayStation buttons away from the middle of the controller to make way for a small touchpad. It's designed to recognise two fingers, or more likely thumbs, and is also a button. Knack doesn't utilise the touchpad but it will be used by other launch-day titles such as first-person shooter Killzone and the pre-installed PlayRoom augmented reality suite.

To make way for the touchpad the PlayStation button has moved lower down on the controller, just above the headphone jack and extension port. The Select and Start buttons have been merged into a single Options button on the right of the touchpad, while a new Share button appears on the left.

There's also a small speaker built into the controller, below the touchpad. In Knack it produces background noises, such as pieces of rock shuffling as Knack draws them to his body. The effect is much more subtle than the noises which come from Nintendo's Wii controller, and it's possible to dip into the PS4's menus to adjust the volume. The DualShock 4 can also act as a motion controller, a feature which isn't utilised in Knack but is used by PlayRoom.

Visually Knack is spectacular, relying on a new game engine built from scratch for the PlayStation 4. It takes advantage of the improved tessellation features to produce finer textures including ripples and interference patterns in the water.

A native Full HD 1080p game, something which was rare on the PlayStation 3, Knack also displays fine details in the leaves on the trees and even the shadows of the individual leaves on the ground, which move in real time as branches sway. The shadows are particularly striking as much of the early gameplay is set outdoors in cities and mountainous regions.

Each tiny piece of Knack's body is rendered separately and tracked by the console. He is constantly changing size, ranging from three feet tall to the size of a house, as he acquires more pieces or loses them in battle. Knack can also acquire components and crystal relics to build devices and unlock new forms and moves. Body pieces can also be used as weapons to blast the area around him. Game developer Mark Cerny believes the PlayStation 4's power and flexibility to cope with such a character saved around 12 months of development time compared to the PlayStation 3.

PlayRoom is a collection of Augmented Reality mini-games which comes pre-installed on the PlayStation 4. It relies on the camera to work, even though the camera is an optional extra and isn't included with every PS4 -- unlike the Xbox One which includes the Kinect and its built-in camera with every console.

PlayRoom lets you see yourself sitting on the couch and then generates tiny robots on the screen which you can touch. Around a dozen of them can jump out of the controller and dance around on the floor, where you can knock them around with your hands and feet and even flick them face-first into the camera. Think of them a little like the minions from Despicable Me. Sony's tie-in with mobile devices also shines through here, with the ability to draw objects on the PlayStation smartphone app and then drop them into the screen as three dimensional objects for you and the robots to play with.

PlayRoom isn't really a game, but it's the kind of thing that young children will really love. It also introduces them to some of the new aspects of the PS4. You can use the touchpad to call up the PlayRoom menu, which appears on the television as if it's a hologram projected around you by the controller. You can then flick left or right and use the touchpad as a button to select your mini-game. It's easy to reach the touchpad with your thumbs and flicking it feels very natural and intuitive.

You can have one robot flying around the room, or view them all inside the controller that you're holding. They fall about as you tilt the controller and you can even see the undersides of the buttons light up as you press them. Tap a beat and the little robots start to dance. Another mini-game lets you play air hockey on a holographic field projected around you, using the touchpad to move your piece.

Between Knack and PlayRoom these titles really help show off the power and versatility of the PS4, although I'm wondering if the decision to make the camera an optional extra is a long-term mistake. When you see what's possible with the Xbox One's improved Kinect, including the non-gaming entertainment features, Microsoft may have set itself up with the more powerful platform. It will be interested to see how PS4 developers.embrace the features shown off by PlayRoom.

Sony's PlayStation 4 goes on sale in Australia on November 29, retailing for $549. Microsoft's Xbox One comes out November 22 and sells for $599.

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